novelraw Chapter 215: Join Us! Black Hunter!
Chapter 215: Join Us! Black Hunter!
This is a warning... In Chen Qi’s eyes, a bright red bullet was reflected.
Bang!
Before he could react, in the next moment, a sharp roaring sound erupted from the distance.
With the piercing noise slicing through the sky, the air instantly filled with a pungent smell of gunpowder, and thousands of magical bullets rained down like a torrential storm, slanting towards them.
"Damn it!"
Fenrir clenched his teeth tightly and shouted with all his might:
"Defense! Activate the highest-level shield!"
The ship’s surface was immediately covered by the dense barrage, the clashing of metal and steel rang out continuously, deafeningly loud, sparks flying everywhere like furious flames dancing on the hull, reflecting the surrounding seawater in a fiery red glow.
Following Fenrir’s command, steaming hot vapor surged from the ship’s surface. A sturdy, translucent shield slowly emerged, blocking the vast majority of the attacks.
Phew—Chen Qi exhaled deeply.
Fortunately, their ship was one of the Blood Blade Pirates’ toughest vessels—the General’s Flagship. The hull itself could deploy a special shield, capable of withstanding most long-range assaults.
However, despite this, the massive warship was still steadily pushed back under the dense barrage of fire.
"Counterattack! Counterattack!"
Mad Wolf Fenrir roared loudly, ordering all the crew onboard to enter combat mode, while signaling other nearby ships around Red Maple Island to form a surrounding formation.
Such a dense barrage was the skill of artillery specialists...
Chen Qi instinctively thought.
It was Big Mom Carol of the Blackfin Crew, currently the only large captain with a known presence in the Rift Sea.
Artillery specialists wield extremely powerful long-range attacks; ordinary bullets in their hands could unleash more than tenfold power. The bullets they fired could turn a steam iron ship into burning ashes within seconds.
Chen Qi decisively spoke:
"It’s Big Mom Carol’s ship, along with her gunner legion..."
"Carol..."
At the sound of the name, the scene fell silent for a brief second. The Blood Lady glanced around helplessly and said:
"Don’t worry, everyone. Our veteran Gale should be on his way back. If Big Mom Carol fights us directly, the final outcome will surely be our victory..."
As she spoke, the Blood Lady’s face turned sorrowful:
"However, once the battle begins, we may not be able to guarantee your safety..."
Big Mom Carol was a transcendent known for her firepower. Her personal firepower alone could set the entire Red Maple Island ablaze.
Ships that fought against her usually ended up as ashes.
No one could guarantee they wouldn’t be severely injured by Big Mom Carol’s absolute firepower.
Chen Qi touched his forehead, feeling a chill.
Is this the treatment for the Flower Witch Fen in the Witch Sea? After boarding the ship, they were immediately targeted by the sea’s gunfire queen.
He and Fen had just started gaining strength, but against the steel giant ship and a fourth-tier legend, they barely had any ability to resist.
Faced with the current situation, everyone was momentarily at a loss.
Then, in the next moment, Mad Wolf Fenrir suddenly noticed through the ship’s window that bubbles were constantly rising on the nearby sea surface.
There was someone underwater!
Before everyone could react, in an instant, a huge sea beast slowly poked its head out of the water, and standing atop the beast’s head was a man clad entirely in red.
The aura of Goblet affinity... Chen Qi thought secretly.
Mad Wolf Fenrir grabbed his greatsword:
"Madam, what should we do?"
The Blood Lady paused for a few seconds:
"This should be the envoy from the other side. Let’s listen to what they have to say..."
Bang!
Envoy? Chen Qi showed a hint of confusion.
At the moment the Blood Lady finished speaking, the sea beast and the man fully emerged from the water.
The man had short red hair, was about thirty years old, wore glasses, and held a corrupted staff.
Despite his attire, his delicate and square face, paired with round gold-rimmed glasses, gave him the refined look of a banking elite.
This outfit belonged to a Blood Mage. Wait, under his feet... Chen Qi’s pupils widened involuntarily.
Beneath him was a huge sea beast.
Its exterior was blue, resembling a giant turtle, but with a longer neck. Its shell looked more like a seashell, and its head resembled a seahorse.
A Shell Dragon—an extremely rare sea beast... Chen Qi recalled that this creature was quite famous in the Witch Sea.
Not only Chen Qi, but Fen, the Blood Lady, and Mad Wolf on the ship were all drawn to this special sea beast.
Its size and appearance were the reason. It was already over fifteen meters tall, and on its body were some special black markings, giving the Shell Dragon’s dull eyes a terrifying domineering aura.
Although the Shell Dragon looked dull, it was definitely not easy to tame. In terms of strength, it was by no means weaker than the coastal Blackship Sea Dragon!
Fenrir clenched his fists tightly:
"Blood Mage, is this guy a mutated monster from the navy research base?"
The Blood Mage shook off the water from his head and, facing the massive flagship of the Blood Blade Pirates, adjusted his delicate round-rimmed glasses with no respect in his eyes:
"Yes, a masterpiece from naval research. Controlling ferocious beasts is not impossible. The monsters we obtained at the naval research base are not limited to just the Black Pig Shark~"
Then, the Blood Mage crouched on the Shell Dragon’s head:
"Weaklings of the Blood Blade Pirates, you should remember, the Blackfin Crew’s strategy is always one step ahead of you. We have already preliminarily obtained much data at the naval research base. If given a chance, your ships might be surrounded by a swarm of Black Pig Sharks...
And the entire Blood Blade Pirates might be swallowed by a tidal wave of monsters we’ve researched."
Surrounded by a swarm of Black Pig Sharks... The Blood Blade Pirates were all shocked.
Though the Blood Mage clearly exaggerated, current signs indicated such a thing was not impossible.
After all, this Blood Mage, who was not even a beast tamer, could keep a ferocious Shell Dragon calm.
If there were a legendary beast tamer present, they could probably command hundreds of Black Pig Sharks.
Among those present, only Chen Qi felt worried.
What is this guy doing... Chen Qi glanced at the dull Shell Dragon.
Like the Black Pig Shark, it had some implanted device inside, allowing the Blood Mage to control it.
"Woo woo woo—"
The Shell Dragon suddenly lunged forward, looking pitiful as it tried to get closer to Chen Qi.
Its ugly sea dragon head covered with seaweed made Chen Qi step back involuntarily.
"Don’t be anxious, don’t be anxious~"
The Blood Mage squatted down and gently stroked the Shell Dragon beneath him:
"My little dragon, now is not the time to start fighting."
As the Shell Dragon was stroked, it edged a bit closer to Chen Qi’s direction again.
Ah, what a murderous monster, already picking its target... The Blood Mage stood up again:
"Alright, everyone, time is tight. I’m here to discuss a trade."
Trade? Fenrir shouted loudly, trying to wrest control back:
"I have no interest in any trade mentioned by the Blackfin Crew!"
The Blood Mage’s lips curled slightly:
"Don’t be so hasty. Isn’t it better to hear the trade content first?"
Then, he pointed his bloody finger at Chen Qi and the Flower Witch.
He wanted these two!
"Give us those two, and in exchange, we offer research base data, fifty million Shell Coins, plus the Shell Dragon beneath me! Also, a withdrawal from this naval base operation as part of the deal!"
Sigh...
Us? Chen Qi and the Flower Witch were momentarily stunned.
This Blood Mage went through so much effort, and it was all aimed at them.
Moreover, withdrawing from the operation meant the Blackfin Crew would suffer unimaginable losses.
Chen Qi was secretly surprised; their value was indeed very high!
"Get lost!"
Mad Wolf Fenrir shouted angrily without hesitation.
As a warrior of the Blood Blade Pirates, he would never break his promise.
The Blood Mage helplessly shrugged:
"How rude. Fine... we don’t want the Witch. Then the Black Hunter, join our Blackfin Crew!
As a bride price, we’re willing to give the Blood Blade Pirates fifty million Shell Coins, plus a Shell Dragon, and write a Shell Pact promising not to attack the Blood Blade Pirates for the next three days!"
Join, bride price... Chen Qi heard this and was dumbfounded again.
Shouldn’t they be buying my life? Why do they want me to join?
Although the tone was harsh, the Blackfin Crew’s goal seemed to be to recruit him...
Chen Qi thought carefully.
On the bounty list, the Blackfin Crew demanded him alive.
Could it be that the Blackfin Crew really wanted him... Chen Qi speculated silently.
The Blood Mage immediately smiled:
"A tiny hunter of the vast sea, in exchange for such a reward? Quite fitting!
And don’t worry, Hunter, we mean no harm. We’re just very interested in your reputation. If you come to our Blackfin Crew, you won’t be mistreated.
I know the Blood Blade Pirates value allies, but right now, I’m just giving this Hunter a better opportunity—an opportunity to conquer this sea with us.
If you join us, money, beauties, skill cards, the latest transcendent weapons—everything you could want will be yours."
Everyone fell into a brief silence.
Fenrir, who valued loyalty, was stunned.
The reason the Blackfin Crew could become so huge was closely related to their constant poaching efforts.
Many once-famous figures like Chen Qi eventually ended up recruited by the Blackfin Crew.
Gunfire Queen Carol, Blood Hunter, Dragon Tamer Jie, Black Death Doctor...
Once, they were terrifying legends known throughout the sea.
Fenrir didn’t speak for a while.
Meanwhile, the Flower Witch suddenly had a few small worried blue flowers bloom above her head.
The reward offered was astonishing!
Fifty million Shell Coins, a powerful Shell Dragon, plus a three-day ceasefire.
Among these, the most important was the three-day ceasefire.
Those three days were enough for the Blood Blade Pirates’ war efforts to make significant changes.
An invisible pressure pressed heavily on Fenrir’s shoulders like a huge stone.
Recently, the Blood Blade Pirates’ situation was not good... Fenrir signaled Chen Qi with a glance, seeking his opinion:
"Hunter..."
Fen’s head also had a tiny frightened flower bloom.
Chen Qi fell into a brief contemplation.
He was no longer a slave who could be casually discarded. Through various actions on the sea, he had already attracted the Blackfin Crew’s attention.
In fact, joining the Blackfin Crew would not mean immediate death; rather, his strength would rapidly improve.
If his Deep Sea Affinity talent were revealed, the unscrupulous Blackfin Crew would value him even more, cultivating him as a core member!
His strength would skyrocket at an unimaginable speed, growing far beyond his expectations...
In the future, he might become a legendary main force against the navy, a new great captain of the Blackfin Crew.
But as a price, he would likely never be able to defy the Blackfin Crew’s higher-ups for life.
His transcendent path, his marriage, his tomorrow, even his next move—all would be controlled by the Blackfin Crew.
Besides, joining the Blackfin Crew meant becoming an enemy of Fen, one of his few friends at sea... Chen Qi glanced at Fen and softly replied:
"No interest at all."
"I see..."
Upon hearing the reply, the Blood Mage’s cheerful face instantly darkened:
"Hunter, in the thousand-year history of this sea, there have been many hunters like you. Their final fate was death by storms, sea beasts, or the navy...
In these waves, without the protection of the upper echelon, you and I are just leaves."
The Blood Mage stared at Chen Qi for a few seconds, his expression growing even darker.
He couldn’t understand why Big Mom Carol wanted the Black Hunter to join. Why was this person’s price so high? Could Big Mom have taken a liking to the Black Hunter?
"You’ve lost the backing of a powerful pirate crew..." Seeing Chen Qi’s lack of reaction, the Blood Mage no longer showed a friendly face. He said viciously:
"Hunter, remember this day. The day you die, when you fall into the sea like a stray dog by the roadside, devoured by sharks—you’ll regret your decision!"
This guy sure had a foul mouth... Chen Qi smirked sarcastically:
"Compared to that, why don’t you think about how you’ll survive this war once the poison in others’ wine runs out?"
I’m going to die? The Blood Mage adjusted his glasses, a trace of anger blooming in his eyes.
A somewhat famous hunter actually dared to insult him first.
Seeing Chen Qi’s sarcastic expression, the Shell Dragon beneath the Blood Mage emitted a comfortable sound and suddenly moved towards Chen Qi!
The Blood Mage patted the Shell Dragon:
"Little dragon, want to kill him, huh? Not the time yet!"
Then he lifted his head and pulled on the reins of the Shell Dragon:
"Blood Blade Pirates, and Witch and Hunter, you missed a chance! A once-in-a-millennium opportunity!
You two, just wait to be caged by Big Mom! Especially you, Black Hunter!"
He glared fiercely at everyone.
Currently, the Blood Blade Pirates were short on manpower and dared not fight head-on. He rode the Shell Dragon and left in a grand departure.
Chen Qi also returned a fierce glare at the Blood Mage and the Shell Dragon.
At Chen Qi’s fierce glare, the Shell Dragon twisted a few times under the Blood Mage’s feet and suddenly threw the Blood Mage into the sea with a splash.
The Blood Mage climbed out.
Splash!
Then the Blood Mage got up, only to be thrown into the water again.
"..."
Maybe I shouldn’t have glared at that Shell Dragon... Chen Qi thought briefly.
The ship was silent for a few more seconds.
"This is the Blackfin Crew’s monster. They really can’t fully control it..." Fenrir muttered:
"Madam, should we..."
The Blood Lady shook her head:
"No, before the veteran returns, we cannot start a fight lightly. But from the looks of it, we must speed up entering the lost naval base."
The fact they could seize the Shell Dragon proved the other side had already grasped much data from the abandoned naval base.
If this continued, many treasures and precious data from the naval base would fall into the Blackfin Crew’s hands.
If the Blackfin Crew successfully absorbed this data, they might create a sea beast disaster legion of their own on the sea!
Mad Wolf Fenrir clenched his fists and sighed deeply.
The arrival of the Blackfin Crew had cast a temporary shadow over the entire Blood Blade Pirates.
They had to admit that the Blackfin Crew now held the upper hand.
"Qi, sorry..." Fen lowered his head, not knowing what to say or how to comfort Chen Qi.
Being targeted by a Shell Dragon and a Blood Mage was terrifying.
"The Blackfin Crew came here and did nothing..."
Chen Qi looked at the Blood Mage thrashing in the water, trying to climb onto the Shell Dragon, then glanced at the Blood Blade Pirates’ plan in his hand.
In this plan, they needed to detour, pass through the black mist area filled with mutated sea beasts, and finally reach the naval research base.
Something was wrong... Chen Qi looked toward the distant Blood Mage. He had a faint feeling that the Blackfin Crew was luring them, leading them into a deep-sea trap full of monsters.